Pastoral neighborhood thrives inside Loop

Updated 1:10 am, Monday, July 2, 2012

Photo: Michael Paulsen

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Jim Ohmart checks the water quality of Japhet Creek running through the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a way that allows the residents to be less dependent on the commercial world. Jim Ohmart started this community and owns most of the properties. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle )

Jim Ohmart checks the water quality of Japhet Creek running through the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community

A rooster stands guard at Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a way that allows the residents to be less dependent on the commercial world. Jim Ohmart started this community and owns most of the properties. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle )

A rooster stands guard at Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a

The community has a country feel, and it's a place where rescued chickens can find refuge. The chicken coop provides about a dozen eggs a day in summer.

The community has a country feel, and it's a place where rescued chickens can find refuge. The chicken coop provides about a dozen eggs a day in summer.

Photo: Michael Paulsen

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Several rental homes in the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a way that allows the residents to be less dependent on the commercial world. Jim Ohmart started this community and owns most of the properties. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle )

Several rental homes in the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a

Jim Ohmart walks through the neighborhood of Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a way that allows the residents to be less dependent on the commercial world. Jim Ohmart started this community and owns most of the properties. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle )

Jim Ohmart walks through the neighborhood of Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and

Jim Ohmart stands in his backyard at the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a way that allows the residents to be less dependent on the commercial world. Jim Ohmart started this community and owns most of the properties. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle )

Jim Ohmart stands in his backyard at the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it

Jim Ohmart checks on the chickens in his backyard at the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a way that allows the residents to be less dependent on the commercial world. Jim Ohmart started this community and owns most of the properties. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle )

Jim Ohmart checks on the chickens in his backyard at the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the

Jim Ohmart checks on the working beehives at the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a way that allows the residents to be less dependent on the commercial world. Jim Ohmart started this community and owns most of the properties. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle )

Jim Ohmart checks on the working beehives at the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country

Jim Ohmart checks on one of his vacant rental homes in the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a way that allows the residents to be less dependent on the commercial world. Jim Ohmart started this community and owns most of the properties. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle )

Jim Ohmart checks on one of his vacant rental homes in the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like

A field of sunflowers provides ample food and protection for wildlife at the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a way that allows the residents to be less dependent on the commercial world. Jim Ohmart started this community and owns most of the properties. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle )

A field of sunflowers provides ample food and protection for wildlife at the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community

A rooster stands guard with a group of rescued chickens that find refugee at Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a way that allows the residents to be less dependent on the commercial world. Jim Ohmart started this community and owns most of the properties. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle )

A rooster stands guard with a group of rescued chickens that find refugee at Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community

The front door of Jim Ohmart and Eileen Hatcher's home in the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a way that allows the residents to be less dependent on the commercial world. Jim Ohmart started this community and owns most of the properties. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle )

The front door of Jim Ohmart and Eileen Hatcher's home in the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more

Eileen Hatcher, left, and Jim Ohmart look at their sustainable garden at Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a way that allows the residents to be less dependent on the commercial world. Jim Ohmart started this community and owns most of the properties. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle )

Eileen Hatcher, left, and Jim Ohmart look at their sustainable garden at Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community

Jim Ohmart and Eileen Hatcher, framed in the gate to their garden, enjoy the pastoral life at Japhet Creek Community, although he will readily admit that sustainability is a challenge. See more photos of the community online at chron.com and on the iPad with our app.

Jim Ohmart and Eileen Hatcher, framed in the gate to their garden, enjoy the pastoral life at Japhet Creek Community, although he will readily admit that sustainability is a challenge. See more photos of the

Jim Ohmart, left, and Eileen Hatcher stand in the entrance to their sustainable garden at Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a way that allows the residents to be less dependent on the commercial world. Jim Ohmart started this community and owns most of the properties. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle )

Jim Ohmart, left, and Eileen Hatcher stand in the entrance to their sustainable garden at Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet

Jim Ohmart, left, and Eileen Hatcher stand in the entrance to their sustainable garden at Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a way that allows the residents to be less dependent on the commercial world. Jim Ohmart started this community and owns most of the properties. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle )

Jim Ohmart, left, and Eileen Hatcher stand in the entrance to their sustainable garden at Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet

Jim Ohmart, left, and Eileen Hatcher stand in the entrance to their sustainable garden at Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a way that allows the residents to be less dependent on the commercial world. Jim Ohmart started this community and owns most of the properties. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle )

Jim Ohmart, left, and Eileen Hatcher stand in the entrance to their sustainable garden at Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet

Eileen Hatcher holds 13-month-old Alanna Herod, one of the newest additions to the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek Community feels more like the country and it operates in a way that allows the residents to be less dependent on the commercial world. Jim Ohmart started this community and owns most of the properties. ( Michael Paulsen / Houston Chronicle )

Eileen Hatcher holds 13-month-old Alanna Herod, one of the newest additions to the Japhet Creek Community, Thursday, June 14, 2012, in Houston. Although just a few miles from downtown Houston, Japhet Creek

Jim Ohmart and Eileen Hatcher, framed in the gate to their garden, enjoy the pastoral life at Japhet Creek Community, although he will readily admit that sustainability is a challenge. See more photos of the community online at chron.com and on the iPad with our app.

Jim Ohmart and Eileen Hatcher, framed in the gate to their garden, enjoy the pastoral life at Japhet Creek Community, although he will readily admit that sustainability is a challenge. See more photos of the

Her tiny neighborhood of 18 homes includes community gardens, a working beehive and a chicken coop where a brood of hens produces about a dozen fresh eggs each day during the summer. The residents all chip in for a common goal: to live in a way where they're less dependent on the commercial world.

In a city with an abundance of housing options, Pust and her neighbors have chosen one in which they can grow their own food, watch each other's babies and surround themselves with nature despite the recurring reminder that they're just two miles from downtown and their closest neighbor is a metal recycling plant.

"We call this our little country inside the Loop," said Pust.

Their pastoral enclave, the Japhet Community, is located near the intersection of Clinton Drive and Emile Street in the Greater East End District. It's next to Japhet Creek, a mile-long tributary that feeds into Buffalo Bayou and is home to migrating songbirds, turtles, swamp rabbits and red-tailed hawks.

When people move into the neighborhood, they're given a one-page guide to the area that encourages them to support local businesses.

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It has recommendations for nearby restaurants and grocery stores and includes a list of places to buy fresh meat and farm-grown vegetables. It tells residents where they can go thrift shopping and which hardware store will sell them one nail if they want.

Shared values

Most of the old wood-frame homes in the roughly four-block Japhet Community are owned by East End natives Jim Ohmart and his wife, Eileen Hatcher, a quiet, gracious couple who have been married for 42 years. Both are retired, Hatcher from Houston Community College and Ohmart as a third-party property manager.

Their renters tend to embrace the values associated with a more sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle.

The rental application for Ohmart's properties includes questions like: "How would you contribute to the neighborhood to make it better?" and "What skills do you have that you'd be willing to share with everyone?"

About 20 people of various ages live there, including several photographers, a professor, nurse and commercial painter. Some are families. Three babies were born in the community last year.

Ohmart says he tries to keep the rents affordable, but the taxes have gone up. The cheapest house is $350 a month and the most expensive - a three-bedroom - rents for $980.

The community doesn't have a pool or a playground, but residents have other perks, like the creek and a winding trail that runs along it.

Ohmart has a furnished trailer his tenants can use as a "floating spare bedroom" for when friends or family visit.

And when the weather's cool, there are bonfires where everyone roasts marshmallows and the musicians in the group play guitar.

Everyone gets together at least once a month, whether it's for a potluck at someone's house or to make pizza in a rustic wood-fired oven they built outside.

"What the Ohmarts are trying to do is create a community in an urban space," said Mona Metzger, co-founder of Houston Green Scene, a network of local business and individuals focused on sustainable lifestyle practices. "What that means is knowing your neighbors, being connected and sharing responsibilities."

Purchased 10 lots

Ohmart discovered the neighborhood in 1985 when he was looking for canoe access to Buffalo Bayou. The development, which dates to the late 1800s, was started by Isador Japhet. The Houston businessman never completed it and much of the land was sold for industrial development.

In 1986, Ohmart and Hatcher bought the old Japhet farmhouse and moved in a year later after renovating the 1,600-square-foot home, which has the original sleeping porch and a two-sided fireplace. Along with the house, they purchased 10 additional lots.

Since then, they've been buying and renovating the other houses around the farmstead. They've also moved several onto the property from other parts of Houston, including a Montrose duplex, River Oaks garage apartment and two-bedroom Craftsman cottage from Milby Street.

Originally, it wasn't the couple's intention to create a sustainable community.

"Once we started acquiring houses the goal was to have affordable housing that introduced people to the East End," Ohmart said.

Michele and Brian Herod, two of the few who own their home in the community, are active in the Japhet Creek Restoration Project, a longtime effort to clean up the tributary. Brian is the co-founder.

They often spend Saturdays at the creek with youth groups and other community volunteers. It's a big part of why they're there.

"It's a peaceful part of nature and that's important to us," said Michele Herod.

Ohmart would like to build more housing on a 4½-acre tract adjacent to the community the couple bought in 2003. He's considered a multifamily development, perhaps with solar power, where tenants could share common facilities, but no official plans have been made.

Looking to future

In his years on Japhet Creek, Ohmart has seen how challenging this lifestyle can be to maintain.

"People that live here learn how difficult sustainability really is - that you can't grow all your own food, you can't get everywhere in the city on a bike," he said. "With people's busy schedules, people don't have time to become truly sustainable."

As new townhomes and lofts creep toward Japhet Creek, the community will likely face other issues, like staying affordable and maintaining its integrity.

Ohmart would like to find a way to lower the energy costs of the older homes without big rent increases. He wonders if it's possible to develop a master plan that would protect the community for another 100 years.

With recent development activity in the area, he and Hatcher could easily cash out and take a permanent vacation, though that doesn't seem likely.

"Jim's told me we can sell everything and go on a cruise for the rest of our lives," said Hatcher. "But I like coming home."